On December 3, 2025, Steven Lee Cropper died aged 84. He was musician, songwriter, record producer and actor, known as “The Colonel”. He was the guitarist of the “Stax Records” house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. He was also member of the Blues Brothers Band, and recorded and performed with many other artists including Alabama, Jimmy Barnes, William Bell, Barbi Benton, Big Star, Stephen Bishop, Frank Black, Bobby and the Midnites, Booker T. & MG.’s, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Burnette, Brian Cadd, Cate Brothers, Chicago, David Clayton Thomas, A. J. Croce, Patti Dahlstrom, Delaney & Bonnie, Ned Doheny, Yvonne Elliman, Jose Feliziano, Eddie Floyd, Peter Frampton, Richie Furay, Art Garfunkel, Cyndi Grecco, Levon Helm, Chris Hillman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Etta James, Wynonna Judd, Albert King, B.B. King, Al Kooper, John Lennon, Ann Margret, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Craig Morgan, Aaron Neville, Wayne Newton, Harry Nilsson, John Oates, Nigel Olsson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Wilson Pickett, Michel Polnareff, John Prine, Otis Redding, Bruce Roberts, Leon Russell, Sanford & Townsend, Leo Sayer, Poncho Sanchez, Guy Sebastian, Neil Sedaka, Paul Shaffer, Paul Simon, Percy Sledge, Broderick Smith, The Soul Children, The Staple Singers, Mavis Staple, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Livingston Taylor, Carla Thomas, Mickey Thomas, Wendy Waldman, Tower of Power, The Manhattan Transfer, Dale Watson and Jerry Lynn Williams. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him 36th on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists”. Cropper won two “Grammy Awards”, and as leader or co-leader Cropper released 13 albums.
Tag Archives: Leo Sayer
Three Dog Night: Hard Labor
On March 6, 1974, “Dunhill” label released “Hard Labor”, the eleventh Three Dog Night album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito, California, and was produced by Jimmy Lenner.
Personnel:
- Danny Hutton – lead and backing vocals, arrangements
- Chuck Negron – lead and backing vocals, arrangements
- Cory Wells – lead and backing vocals, arrangements
- Mike Allsup – banjo, guitars, arrangements
- Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboard, arrangements
- Skip Konte – keyboard, ARP, chamberlin, arrangements
- Jack Ryland – bass, arrangements
- Joe Schermie – bass, arrangements
- Floyd Sneed – percussion, drums, arrangements
- Greg Calbi, Dennis Ferrante, Jimmy Lenner, Jay Messina, Tom Rabstenek, John Stronach – engineer
- Corky Stasiak – engineer assistant
- Roy Cicala – engineer, remix
- Jim Messina – engineer, remix
- Ed Caraeff – art direction, photography
- David Larkham – design
Track listing:
- Prelude – public domain
- Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here – John Hiatt
- Anytime Baby – Larry Weiss
- Put Out the Light – Daniel Moore
- Sitting in Limbo – Gully Bright, Jimmy Cliff
- I’d Be So Happy – Skip Prokop
- Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) – Allen Toussaint
- On the Way Back Home – Daniel Moore
- The Show Must Go On – David Courtney, Leo Sayer
Pete Sinfield
On November 14, 2024, Peter John Sinfield died aged 80. He was poet and songwriter, founding member of the band A Bowl of Soup, but was best known as co-founder and lyricist of King Crimson. He wrote lyrics for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Angelo Branduardi, Andy Hill, McDonalds and Giles, Robert Sheckley, Brian Eno, Gary Brooker, Nikka Costa, Buck Fizz, Moon Martin, Leo Sayer, Five Star, Flairck, Agnetha Fältskog, Cher, Celine Dion, David Cross, and Ian McDonald. Sinfield released book of lyrics and poems titled “Under the Sky”, and as leader he released one album.
Cliff Richard: I’m No Hero
On September 1, 1980, “EMI” label released “I’m No Hero”, the 23rd Cliff Richard studio album. It was recorded May – June 1980, at “Riverside Recordings” in London, and was produced by Alan Tarney.
Personnel:
- Cliff Richard – vocals
- Alan Tarney – guitars, bass guitars, arrangements
- Michael Boddicker – keyboards
- Nick Glennie-Smith – keyboards
- Trevor Spencer – drums
Track listing:
- Take Another Look – Alan Tarney
- Anything I Can Do – Alan Tarney
- A Little in Love – Alan Tarney
- Here (So Doggone Blue) – Alan Tarney
- Give a Little Bit More – Andy Hill, Jonathan Hodge
- In the Night – Rod Bowkett
- I’m No Hero – Trevor Spencer, Alan Tarney
- Dreamin’ – Leo Sayer, Alan Tarney
- A Heart Will Break – Trevor Spencer, Alan Tarney
- Everyman – Alan Tarney
Mo Foster
On July 3, 2023, Michael Ralph “Mo” Foster died aged 79. He was multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, author, and public speaker. In his career spanning over half a century, Foster recorded and performed with dozens of artists, including Jeff Beck, Gil Evans, Phil Collins, Ringo Starr, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Brian May, Scott Walker, Frida (of ABBA), Cliff Richard, Van Morrison, Dr John, Hank Marvin, Heaven 17, the London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Green, Micheal Schenker, Gary Moore, Sting, Cher, Olivia Newton John, Elkie Brroks, Neil Innes, Judie Tzuke, Sheena Easton, Meat Loaf, Trevor Rabin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Luka Bloom, Tim Rice, Nigel Kennedy, Affinity, Mike d’Abo, Roger Glover, Jimmy Helms. Fancy, Veronique Sanson, Mike Smith, Cerrone, Ray Russell, Andy Bown, The Walker Brothers, Chris Rainbow, Dollar, Dennis Waterman, Eric Clapton, RMS, Bob Geldof, Joe Walsh, Tony Banks, Leo Sayer, Russ Ballard, Claudio Baglioni, Kenny Rogers, Howard Jones, Tanita Tikaram, Georger Martin, Nancy Griffith and Maggie Bell. As leader, Foster released several albums, and authored a humorous book on the history of British rock guitar. In 2014, he was awarded with the “BASCA Gold Badge Award”.
Gene Page
On August 24, 1998, Eugene Edgar Page Jr. aka Gene Page, died aged 58. He was a conductor, composer, arranger, and record producer, one of the most successful arrangers and conductors from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, who worked on more than 200 Platinum and gold records. He created specific sound in the arrangements, and work with numerous artists including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, George Benson, The Jackson 5, Jefferson Starship, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Roberta Flack, Elton John, Leo Sayer, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Frankie Valli, Helen Reddy, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Donna Loren, Martha and The Vandellas, Cher, Barry White, The Love Unlimited Orchestra, and Dionne Warwick. Page released four solo albums and composed soundtracks for few movies.
Jeff Porcaro
On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”.
Matilda Scaduto
On April 22, 2003, Matilda Genevieve Scaduto died aged 77. With her husband Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant wrote number of hits for The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. Their songs were recorded by many artists including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Tonny Bennett, Grateful Dead, Simon and Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Gram Parson, Joan Jett, The Beach Boys, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Lynn Anderson, Sonny James, Eddy Arnold, Bob Moore, Charley Pride, Nazareth, Jim Reeves, Leo Sayer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cher, R.E.M. and Ray Charles.
Bobby Keys
On December 2, 2014, Robert Henry “Bobby” Keys died aged 70. Being saxophonist he has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and bands, among them: The Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, B.B. King, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Chuck Berry, Delaney, Bonnie, Donovan, Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Faces, Harry Nilsson, Warren Zevon, Humble Pie, Joe Ely, John Hiatt, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Keith Moon, Leo Sayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul McCartney, Marvin Gaye, Sheryl Crow, Yoko Ono, Jim Carroll and Graham Nash.
Roger Daltrey: Daltrey
On April 20, 1973, “Track” label released “Daltrey”, the debut Roger Daltrey solo album. It was recorded January – February 1973, at “Barn Studios”, “Apple Studios”, and “Nova Studios”, and was produced by David Courtney and Adam Faith.
Personnel:
- Roger Daltrey- lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Jimmy Page- guitar
- Russ Ballard- guitar, piano
- Brian Cole- steel guitar
- Dave Courtney- piano
- Dave Wintour- bass guitar
- Bob Henrit- drums
- Roy Young Band- brass
- Dave Arbus- violin
- Del Newman -string arrangements
- John Mills – recording
- Richard Dubb – recording
- George Peckham- cutting engineer
- Nigel Oliver – tape operator
Track listing:
All tracks by David Courtney and Leo Sayer, except where noted.
- One Man Band
- The Way of the World – Adam Faith,David Courtney
- You Are Yourself
- Thinking
- You and Me – Adam Faith, David Courtney
- It’s a Hard Life
- Giving it All Away
- The Story So Far
- When the Music Stops
- Reasons
- One Man Band (reprise)
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